Micah Jonah
February 10, 2026
More than two million Kenyans are facing hunger as a severe drought grips the country, particularly affecting cattle-rearing communities in the northeast – United Nations reports.
The drought has caused massive livestock deaths, water shortages, and food insecurity across 10 counties, with Mandera County along the Somali border reaching “alarm” status. Images from Turkana and surrounding areas show starving livestock and residents struggling to access water. Villagers have been forced to dig wells on dried-up pans, while food aid distributions have become critical for survival.
This crisis follows four consecutive failed wet seasons, with the October-December 2025 rains among the driest recorded since 1981. Experts link the worsening conditions to climate change, including the warming of the Indian Ocean, which has intensified both droughts and tropical storms.
Neighboring countries, including Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda, are experiencing similar challenges. In southern Somalia, over three million people have been displaced, with many surviving on one meal or less per day, and children showing severe signs of malnutrition.
African nations, despite contributing only 3–4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, bear a disproportionate burden of climate change impacts due to limited disaster preparedness infrastructure.
Humanitarian agencies, including World Vision and Islamic Relief, are providing emergency food and water assistance, but the situation remains dire as livestock perish, pastures fail, and communities face escalating hunger.
The drought highlights the urgent need for climate adaptation strategies and support for communities dependent on rain-fed agriculture across the Horn of Africa.
